13. Thayla
Thayla
I’m trying my hardest to hide my growing smirk.
Trying but failing.
The twisted features on the guys’ faces would have you believing they smell something rancid. I believe all morning they were waiting for me to say, just kidding, we’re not spending the afternoon with Mara and Gladian.
“This is the dumbest fucking idea you’ve ever had,” Sevryn says, and I arch a brow at him.
“I’m not sure why you all have allowed your panties to get in such a wad over this. I never said you all had to be best friends with him. You’re simply going to tell him the truth and help him find his Valtrue members.”
He and all my men begin, once again, speaking over each other. Their arguments go in one of my ears and out the other.
Poor Nero and Iric share an exhausted look with one another while Lambrit rubs soft circles across Rose’s back.
“Why don’t you and Rose go ahead and take everything to the hot spring? I’ll figure out a way to get everyone out the door,” I say as I lean into Yemi.
“Yeah, good luck. I’ve never seen any of them pitch fits like this.”
I snicker under my breath as she holds her hand out to Rose and nods toward my door. Iric, Nero, and Doren give her quick kisses. Sevryn’s ass is going to be pissy that he was too busy bitching to tell her bye.
V nuzzles into my cheek and I let out an annoyed huff.
“Got any sage advice for me? They’re being ridiculous.”
“Yes, actually. Simply walk out the door. They will follow.”
“Really?”
“Yes. The longer you allow them to linger in here, the more pointless nonsense they’ll come up with. What will they do if you just walk out? Stop you?”
His mixture of a hoot and snort draws a chuckle from my lips. I shrug and do as he says.
Funny enough, Doren cheerfully follows right behind me, mumbling, “About time.”
“Get back here, little burden. We aren’t done discussing this,” Riven calls and I wave over my shoulder.
“I’m done.”
I stroll through the lawn and follow the directions Doren’s finger is giving me. I’ve never been to Mara’s house but do know it’s over here with the rest of the gods’ housing. Just a touch more secluded than the others’.
My lips curl at the corners as snide comments and grumbles reach my hearing and I peer over my shoulder at my men. They and Sevryn march toward us, not exactly in a rush to catch up but also not dragging their feet.
“You’re going to have your hands full today, Iric. You as well, Nero. Hope you got a good mediation speech ready to go,” I say as I laugh at the scowls on my men’s faces, then focus back forward.
“I’m simply here for moral support. Attempting to talk to your Valtrue or Sevryn when they’re like this is absolutely pointless and a waste of breath.
There’s no telling how the God of Strength is going to receive uninvited company.
They’ll all eventually listen to you far faster than they’ll listen to me,” Nero says with a smirk.
“They’ll get over it soon enough,” Iric adds.
“Sevryn’s simply trying to deny the relation between them.
Your men have all already realized that the treatment Gladian gave them and vice versa was petty.
Hierarchy nonsense if you will. They’re struggling with that, though, because they’re truly bothered by what he did to you. ”
My smitten little soul swells in my chest.
“I know. It’s confusing for me as well. You don’t just get over the fact that someone whipped you unjustly.
Every time I look at him, I want to punch him in the face, but I also realize how not having an alliance with him at a time like this is more harmful than helpful.
Even knowing his past now, I don’t make excuses for him.
I can put my disdain on pause for the time being, though. ”
“Did you ever think one day you’d be the bigger person in a situation such as this?” Iric asks, and I let out a booming laugh.
“Fuck no. It still shocks me. Honestly, though, if Yemi had never forgiven Mara and our relationship with her never turned around, this wouldn’t be happening. I’d just hate their entire Valtrue. Mara complicates things.”
“Yemi’s both nervous and excited to see her. She’s hoping that Mara seeks her advice rather than be discouraged about her new Designation declaration,” Doren says.
“That’s my hope as well,” I admit. “She has Yemi and Rose to turn to for advice. She’s not alone and that’s what we want to show her today.”
Doren, the sweet softy, gives me a genuine smile as he directs me toward a small path through the trees. I’m honestly a little jealous of the privacy their Valtrue obviously gets.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love our home, and we are a good distance away from the other houses, but not like this. We don’t have trees shielding our door from curious eyes. Just a big-ass front lawn.
A hum slips through my lips as the path opens up to a decently sized yard and a brick house that’s a touch bigger than ours. There’s nothing elaborate about it and it isn’t marbled with gold streaks or anything like that.
It’s…normal.
Shocker.
Despite my men hollering and telling me to wait, I take the few steps up to the door without them. I don’t knock, though. I do wait for them to press themselves against my back.
“Are you all done with your hissy fits?” I ask with a saucy smile on my lips.
Creed, Kyzen, and Riven grumble under their breath. Amick’s purely over it. I suppose the walk gave him time to work through his reservations and now he’s just ready to get this over with.
My knock echoes through the house and I rock on my feet while we wait.
“He’s going to think we’re under attack,” Kyzen murmurs as Gladian’s loud-ass footsteps can be heard through the thick wood.
His assumption is definitely right.
The door swings open so fast, I’m surprised the ol’ God of Strength didn’t rip the thing off its hinges.
“What?” he barks, then his eyes flare for a millisecond. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” I say, peering around his big ass. “Where’s Mara?”
His forehead scrunches in confusion.
“Her room. What’s going on, Godrun?”
“I just said nothing. I’d like to speak with her if you’d be so kind to go and get her for me.”
“Speak to her about what?” he asks and I huff.
“I simply do not have the patience for this,” Amick says.
Before I can tell him to ease into it, he carries on.
“Thayla has decided it’s time you both know the truth about everything.
She wants to take the approach of divide and conquer.
Mara will be going with her to have a girls’ day while we are stuck telling you the truth and finding your Valtrue members.
So, allow us in or bring Mara out here. Those are the options. ”
Gladian blinks countlessly and bounces his gaze between Amick and me. I lift my shoulder in a shrug when he finally decides to focus on me entirely.
“Middle door on the back wall,” he says, pivoting out of the way and holding his arm out.
Damn, I was kind of hoping he’d go get her.
I didn’t really want to walk into his house.
The house that was once Mellcom’s and Jeremiah’s.
My steps falter a bit once I reach the end of their short entrance hall. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it most certainly wasn’t for their living room to be homey and airy. The calm colors and massive windows that provide an ample amount of natural light are quite a surprise.
“Apparently, one of our Valtrue members is a ray of fucking sunshine,” Gladian grunts as he stomps through the living room.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“It didn’t use to be so bright in here.”
Ah, I see. There have been some changes.
I don’t respond. Instead, I point toward the middle door on the back wall just to confirm that’s Mara’s room. He nods.
“Can’t promise she’s going to answer. She’s been ignoring me since we got home for lunch.”
His gaze jerks over to the untouched sandwich and glass of water sitting on their table. He cleans it up, grunting for my men and the others to take a seat. Each of them begs me with their eyes not to leave them. I give them a wink as I reach Mara’s door.
My first few knocks are gentle and they go completely ignored. I don’t even hear rustling on the other side. I really don’t want to announce myself. This whole plan was supposed to be a surprise.
I decide to bang on it and see if that’ll get her attention.
“What the fuck don’t you get about leave me—”
Her fierce glare morphs into confusion as soon as she throws the door open. I’m honestly surprised the doors and walls have survived the two of them.
“Wow, you look really different,” I say, running my gaze over her. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen you without armor on.”
“What…Thayla, what are you doing here?”
“Came to rescue you.”
“Rescue? I’m fine.”
“Don’t really seem fine,” I say as I march past her and invite myself into her room. It is not at all what I expected. “Where do you keep your swimsuits?”
“Swimsuits?” she repeats, then slams her door shut. “What in the hell is going on?”
“I’m here to give you a break from Gladian for a while. You obviously need it since you were bellowing through the door before answering,” I say, then cross her room to her closet and start rummaging through shit.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m fine,” she argues, but it’s unconvincing.
“You are. You can come willingly or I’ll kidnap you. Makes no difference to me,” I huff and shut the top drawer of her single dresser. “Do you seriously not have swimsuits?”
“No, Thayla, and I’m not swimming any damn way.”
“Really? Not even one?”
She sneers at me, but I cut my eyes to her clothes hanging up.
“Do you like this dress?”
“What? No. I’ve never even worn it.”
Works for me.
I snatch the outfit off the hanger, then rip it in two. Her outraged gasp has a chuckle falling from my mouth. Before she has the chance to bitch me out, I call my power of Creation forward. I’ve never made clothing before, but I figure if I can reshape a temple, I can work with some cloth.